Mandi hasn’t forgotten y’all, it’s just that circumstances have combined to make any Rattlesnake House renovation update rather skimpy. On the other hand, the reasons why it’s NOT had much progress are pretty interesting, so let’s talk about that. I’m qualified to update you on the NON work stuff!

The cabin is behind my attractive horse, who is scratching his neck at sunset. It’s the best picture I could find.
Actually, on Monday, Chris and Gary did get more plumbing and electric work done. That was pretty good. No one got hurt. Things went fine.
A Break for a New Project
Tuesday, though, the guys switched over to another project for the Wild Hermits Ranch (which happens to be across the street and is owned by Sue Ann, Lee, and their friends Ralph and Sara). We may have mentioned before that the old cabin on the property had bathroom issues, and we’d hoped to use the shower enclosure that had been left at Rattlesnake over there. But nope, we couldn’t get it in the house. So, Chris agreed to bid on the project to put in a two-piece shower, fix up the wall, and make a reasonable bathroom for the young man who is living there (and who currently showers at the neighbor’s house). The cabin is a COOL place, and the oldest building on the ranch. It used to be a hunting cabin, according to a previous owner, who’d lived there when what is now three properties was one. Interesting.
Animal Emergency
While working on the cabin, Chris and Mandi realized there was an issue with the puppy Chris had brought along with him. It just wasn’t acting right. So, the project had to be cut short. Lee told Chris that pets and kids always come first, so he was encouraged to go find out what was wrong with the little fellow (“little” is not a great word, since we hear it’s part Great Dane). While we were waiting word on the dog’s progress, and Mandi kept an eye out on her older puppy, who played with Chris’s. We worry about parvo. However, this morning Chris sent us an update, and while the pup is still very sick and in the pet hospital, they aren’t sure what the diagnosis is. The good news is that she’s improving and should get to come home tomorrow. Yay!

Diamondback rattlesnakes can get mighty big. This one that met its end at the Rattlesnake House is medium sized. Eek. Photo courtesy of C. Coufal.
And Then Mother Nature Struck
Meanwhile, a big ole storm front came through and gave us around four inches of much-needed rain. All our tanks (ponds) got filled up, and the creek went above its banks (but not too badly, so that’s okay; we are used to some flooding on the flood plain; that’s why it’s a flood plain). Rain is good, but it makes mud. Once Mandi realized that she almost got stuck out at Rattlesnake while driving a 4-wheel drive truck, she didn’t want Chris and Gary to get stuck in their regular truck out there. So, she officially declared a rain day.
Speaking of Nature
The house is still lives up to its name, by the way. Last week the rancher who leases the property next door found two whoppers, one in the Rattlesnake driveway, and one on his side. There’s an abandoned house next door that we think is a hotbed of snake nesting activity. So, from now on, everyone wears boots over there!
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